Automatic sprinkler.



'PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

e. DIEDERYIGI. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLIOATIOH rum) A'UG. 15,1904.

Ira/en [or $201? W Zl/ilkesscs a. iwa W flue UNITED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,857, dated June 27, 1905.

Application filed August 15, 1904. Serial No. 220,881.

To all. whom. it may concern..-

Be it known that I, (mono Dinounici, asubjolt of the German Emperor, residing in the city of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following is a full and exact specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic sprinklers in which glass balls, globes, or vessels containing an expanding fluid or liquid are used as valves or supports for valves in such way that on theoutbreak of a fire the increased temperature causes the lluid or liquid to expand and fracture the vessel, ball, or globe in which it is hermetically inclosed, thus allowing the water free egress onto the fire.

The expansive agent hitherto used in glass vessels as described has been mercury, which on being l'ieated expands until it finally splits or bursts the glass vessel in which it is hermetically inclosed. Mercury has, however, the disadvantage that the pressure ceases immediately the slightest split occu rs in the glass, which enables part of the mercury to escape, and the consequence of this has been that the glass vessels when used as valve-supports have been frequently only partially destroyed, so that thepieces still heldlthe valve to its seat, or when usedas valve the pieces have blocked up the valve-opening, so that the sprinkler could not work.

insure .the glass vessel, whether used as valve or support for same, being blown inevery case into. small fragments immediately the predetermined temperature has been attained, so that the egress ot' the water column cannot under any circumstances be impeded.

I will explain the method of carrying out my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a sprinkler in which the valve is held to its seat by a glass vessel shown in section and containing an expansive or explosive filling. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a sprinkler in which the glass out for receiving the top of the spherical glass vessel 6. As support to the said vessel from underneath a small block 7, suitably hollowed out, is used, 'beingfastened to or held by a setscrew 8 passing through the apex of the yoke 2. In Fig. 2 the spherical glass vessel 6 is itself made to serve as valve, being held on its seat by means of a set-screw 9 in a, similar way to set-screw 8 in Fig. -1. As valve-seat a resilient dia 'ihragm 10 can be used, the edge of the valve-orifice-l. eing preferably provided on the valve side with a soft metal 11 so that an air and water tight joint can be obtained by screwing up the set-screw 9.

To carry out the object of the invention, it

is necessary that the filling of the glass vessel on being heated should not only expand, but also generate gas, so that the explosion of same can effectually shatter every portion of the glass valve or support. In order to obtain this generation of gas and explosive effect in accordance with the present invention, the glass ball, globe, or vessel is filled with alco- I, 1101 which is saturated with carbonic acid under The object of the present invent1on is to pressure at a low temperature. Under the influence of an increasing temperature the alcohol then expands and finally at a given temperature bursts the glass vessel, Whereupon the carbonic acid contained in the alcohol, having also been put in very high tension by the heat, is suddenly freed and in its rapid escape has an, explosive action which complc'ely shatters every part of the glass ball.

The choice of the degree of cold which is used enables the degree of heat at which the glass ball is-to explode to be predetermined within a few degrees.

It is understood that I lay no claim to novelty in' the method of using the glass ball as illuslzrated for the pnrpose of making clear the I nratecl While under pressuye with carbonie 1 acsion of the contents of same. acid substantially as and for the purpose de- Having now descrilied my invention, What scribed.

I claim, and desire to seeure log/Letters Pat- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my ent, is hand in presence of two Witnesses.

V In an automatic s'prinklen, the*c0mbinati0n, v GEGRG DIEDERICI.

with a sprinklerabody, a. set-screw and a fiexi- Witnesses: I

ble valve-seat located Within same, of. a 1101- WOLDEMAR HAUPT,

low glass ball having a filling of alcohol sat- HENRY HASPER. 

